Understand

Purwokerto is a town of 300,000 inhabitants. Commonly referred as a cross-road between Jakarta and Yogyakarta. The town is on the foothill of Gunung Slamet volcano, the highest volcano in Central Java. Purwokerto also the main entrance to climb Gunung Slamet. Many of Indonesian famous people originated from Purwokerto, namely Jendral Sudirman, Jendral Gatot Subroto, Soepardjo Roestam etc. Most of those heroic people are honoured as a street name all over Indonesia.

Get in

By plane

Until today airport in Banyumas area is still in planning process. Military airport in Wirasaba Purbalingga is only a half hour from Purwokerto, capital city of Banyumas.
Nowadays the airport has been being built for commercial flight. From capital city of Jakarta through Sukarno Hatta Airport, you can pass Adi Sucipto Airport (Yogyakarta), Adi Sumarmo Airport (Solo), Tunggul Wulung Airstrip (Cilacap) and Ahmad Yani International Airport (Semarang) and then go through road way.
from: [1]

By bus

The bus station is Terminal Bus Purwokerto on 10 hectares area, clean, save and comfort located 4 km to the south of the town center. There are regular services throughout the island, including Jakarta (9 hours) with customer recommended Sinar Jaya bus, Yogyakarta (4 to 5.5 hours) with Raharja and Efisiensi bus, Semarang (6 hours) with Nusantara bus and Bandung (6 to 8 hours) with Budiman and Goodwill bus.
The terminal serves for 24 hours.

By train

Trains to Jakarta take between 4 to 9 hours from the main Purwokerto station depend on train class. The Argo-class trains (Argo Lawu and Argo Dwipangga) are the best of the lot: most comfortable and fastest. Taksaka is almost as good. These train also cater for Yogyakarta destination.

Get around

Purwokerto is a relatively small city, travelling around town should not be too expensive. You may jog around town for 40 minutes.

By trishaw

Traditional three-wheeled pedal-powered carts known as becak can be found in most part of Purwokerto. Haggle furiously.

By angkot

Although Purwokerto is a small city, travelling around town can be more faster and easier by angkot (a van that carries passengers, very common in Indonesia). Always have direct routes but sometimes can be very crowded. Costs Rp 2500 per person.

See

Purwokerto has many beautiful buildings and monuments.

[[File:Bank BRI Museum Purwokerto.jpg|thumb|350px|Bank BRI Museum, one of the city's main attraction.

Purwokerto Fly-over, is a well known landmark located in front of train station. The flyover was built in 1967.

Train Station, a Dutch colonial architecture, many Dutch residential building can be located in front of the train station.

Museum Bank, located in Jalan Bank, a museum dedicated for R.A. Wiriatmaja who pioneer the Indonesian banking system.

Do

Sport centre: GOR Satria (Jalan Dr Suharso) is known as the largest sport complex in town. Contains a football stadium, tennis courts, reflection park, and a few other venues. Usually, locals visit place in the morning, especially on Sunday.

Karaoke: One of the most popular entertainment program in town, especially for the locals. Plenty of well-known chains spread throughout the city, such as Inul Vista (Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, close to Pasar Wage), Happy Puppy (Satria Plaza), NAV (Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, across the Satria Plaza), and Happy Family (Cherry Fresh Fruit Market).

Pool: Another famous entertainment activity in town. There are a few pool places in town, such as Maestro Billiard (Jalan Dr Suharso), and BBC Pool and Billiards (Jalan Dr Angka, Tirta Kembar Amusement Center).

Clubbing: Cheers! Cafe (Jalan Dr Angka, Dynasty Entertainment Center) is the most-known and the best club in town, also comes with new concept of Cafe - Club - Party. A lot of Indonesian famous singers and bands held their stage here.

Handcrafts

There are plenty of handcrafts and souvenirs stands in the nearby, Baturaden, a cool resort-town just 14 km to the north.

Eat

The following dishes should be on every traveller's agenda:

Gudeg, a curry of jackfruit, chicken and egg served with rice, and is the most famous local dish. The most famous gudeg seller is in front of Pasar Manis, Jalan Gatot Subroto.

Mendoan is local food in Purwokerto, from a very slim Tempe (food from a fermented soy bean, very famous food in Java) and covered by dough of wheat flour. Although many places selling Mendoan, the best Mendoan only served in the village. Even though Mendoan sold at city is considerable tasty.

Sate Kambing Sate Kambing in Purwokerto Area (Banyumas, Sokaraja, Purbalingga) is also famous for very tender young Goat. One of the best is Sate Tiga Saudara.

Soto Sokaraja, available in Sokaraja, located 4 km west of Purwokerto. Many of Soto Sokaraja in here, conside one of the best is Soto Kecik. The place not so good but very famous. Another famous one (some people consider this soto is better) is Soto Sutri.

Mie Kelinci III available in HR.Benyamin 2 KM from Limas Agung.

Mendoan can be bought at jalan Sawangan, such as Mirasa, Echo21, etc. You can buy it raw (with separated ingredient) and frying it at home.

Bakso Pekih, Pekih Street, north of Grand Mosque and City Square. Open 9am - 3pm approx.

Gethuk Goreng At Sokaraja we also found the famous food called Gethuk Goreng that many shops sell with different kinds of names. It made of cassava and a lot of javanese sugar. And the other food: nopia, mino (small nopia) kripik, and also mendoan.

Midrange

Siomay Kuah Segar, Prof Dr Suharso Street, a blend of Indonesian and Japanese restaurant, offers siomay, bakso, and Japanese cuisine such as Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, Ramen, and Yakimesi.

Meteor Cafe, Jalan Jend. Sudirman, Satria Plaza no. 1-2 (Right in the city center, just a walk distance to the business and shopping centers), ☎(0281) 634234, [7]. 10.00 AM - 22.00 PM. One of the best place in town for hangout, offers Italian, Chinese, Japanese cuisines and snacks.

Sleep

Budget

Hotel Borobudur, Jalan Yosodarmo 32, ☎+62 281 635341, +62 281 637747.

Hotel Mulia, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman no. 732 (right in the downtown, close to the market and commercial centers), [9]. Strategically located in the downtown. Just a walk distance to markets, commercial centers, and tourist attractions.Zenith IDR 150,000, Diamond IDR 300,000.

Midrange

Green Valley Resort Baturaden, Jl. Raya Baturaden km.8 Baturaden (8 km to the south to Purwokerto, 6 km to the north to resort-town Baturaden), ☎+62-281-681123, [10]. A newly-built 3 stars plus resort hotel with beautiful and stunning views of Baturaden.

Puri Wisata Hotel, Jl. Raya Baturaden (located right in the resort-town of Baturaden, 14 km north of Purwokerto), ☎+62-281-681331. Nice hotel in Baturaden, just a walk distance to plenty of tourist attractions.

Hotel Rosenda Cottages, Jl. Raya Baturaden (located right in the resort-town of Baturaden, 14 km north of Purwokerto), ☎+62-281-681570, [11]. A 3 stars hotel located in Baturaden, foot of Mount Slamet.

Queen Garden Hotel Baturaden, Jl. Pariwisata Baturaden (located in Baturaden, a cool resort town and only 10 minutes to Purwokerto), ☎+62-281-681388, [12]. One of the most famous 3 stars hotel in Baturaden. Offers the cool air of Baturaden and spectacular views of the city of Purwokerto and surrounding areas.Economy IDR 250,000, Suite IDR 1,395,000.

Wisata Niaga Hotel, Jl. Merdeka no.5 Purwokerto (right in the downtown of Purwokerto), ☎+62-281-642333. A modern-minimalist-styled business hotel. The building was formerly used as the branch office of an insurance company.Standard IDR 145,000, family IDR 275,000.

Horison Hotel, Jl. Dr. Angka no.71 Purwokerto (about 5 minutes driving north of the downtown, near to the main road to Baturraden), ☎+62-281-634321, [16]. A three stars comfortable resort-hotel.Standard IDR 440,000, family IDR 660,000k.

Get out

North

Baturaden is a resort area on the southern slope of Gunung Slamet. Just 14 km from town center. Offers cool climate, hot springs, and nature attractions.

East

Mersi, famous for kripik tempe,jenang jaket and many more of other traditional meals.

Purbalingga, home for the famous Owabong Waterpark, Sanggaluri Park, and Purbayasa River World.